14 Aug 2026NRI repatriation involves transferring eligible funds from India to an overseas bank account while complying with applicable tax and documentation requirements. From 1 April 2026, the Income Tax Act, 2025 and Income Tax Rules, 2026 introduce Form 145 and Form 146 as the new equivalents of Forms 15CA and 15CB for applicable foreign remittances. For NRIs, understanding these changes is important when repatriating income, property sale proceeds, investments, or other eligible funds. Regitom Antony & Associates provides professional NRI taxation, income tax, tax compliance, repatriation assistance, and Chartered Accountant services to help NRIs manage their Indian tax and remittance requirements accurately.
- What Has Changed in 2026?
The new Income Tax Act, 2025 replaces the earlier framework for foreign remittance reporting. For remittances made on or after 1 April 2026, Form 145 replaces Form 15CA, while Form 146 replaces Form 15CB. The Income Tax Department confirms that the underlying requirements, including reporting the remittance and ensuring applicable TDS compliance, remain substantially similar.
- What Is Form 145?
Form 145 is the new information form for payments made to a non-resident or foreign company. It generally needs to be furnished before the remittance is made. The form captures details such as the remitter, recipient, nature and purpose of the payment, and applicable tax information.
- What Is Form 146?
Form 146 is the new equivalent of Form 15CB. It is a Chartered Accountant's certificate used in applicable cases where a CA certificate is required before filing the relevant portion of Form 145. This makes professional tax review particularly important for complex NRI repatriation transactions.
- Understanding the Four Parts of Form 145
Form 145 is divided into four parts:
- Part A: Applicable where the taxable remittance or aggregate remittances do not exceed ₹5 lakh during the tax year.
- Part B: Applicable where the taxable remittance exceeds ₹5 lakh and an Assessing Officer's certificate or order has been obtained.
- Part C: Applicable where the taxable remittance exceeds ₹5 lakh and a Form 146 certificate from an accountant has been obtained.
- Part D: Applicable where the remittance is not chargeable to tax, subject to specified exceptions.
- What About Forms 15CA and 15CB Already Filed?
Forms 15CA and 15CB filed for remittances made on or before 31 March 2026 can continue to remain valid after the new Act takes effect, provided the actual remittance occurs on or before the date specified in the relevant form.
- What NRIs Should Check Before Repatriation
Before transferring money abroad, NRIs should determine the source of funds, taxability, applicable TDS, supporting documents, and purpose of remittance. Property sale proceeds, rental income, investments, inheritance, and other sources may have different tax and documentation considerations.
- How Regitom Antony & Associates Can Help
A professional CA can help review the transaction, determine the appropriate reporting requirements, assess applicable tax implications, prepare or certify the required forms, and coordinate documentation for the remittance process. This can reduce errors and help NRIs maintain proper tax compliance while transferring funds abroad.
The introduction of Forms 145 and 146 marks an important procedural change for NRI and other cross-border remittances from April 2026. Although these forms replace Forms 15CA and 15CB, the core objective of reporting foreign payments and ensuring tax compliance continues. NRIs should understand the applicable part of Form 145 and determine whether Form 146 or other supporting documentation is required before making a remittance. Professional guidance from Regitom Antony & Associates can help make the repatriation process more structured, compliant, and efficient.